#team tadpole

[gortashsrighthand]

They prayed together. They trained together. They laughed together. They danced together. They gossiped together. They learned together. They watched together. They healed together They slept together.

Read Companions on AO3.

Day 5 of Durgecember by @penned-by-perci - Companions/Changes/Adventure

[bloodycyrano]

Little things I think team tadpole would do for one another.

Part 1.

I think Durge/Tav and Wyll would be willing to read karlachs favorite childhood stories to her, since I don't think she could really pick up and read books- being flammable and all.

Astarion would use his sewing skills to stitch up Clive- And maybe make a few more little stuffed animal friends for Karlach.

I also think Astarion would pull Durge/Tav aside when he noticed them getting stressed out and forcibly talk them through some self care.- Astarion is the king of passive aggressive pep talks.

Gale would definitely try to help Wyll try to figure out how to turn back to the way he was before Mizora turned him into a devil.

Tav hosts group therapy sessions every Sunday, prove me wrong.

Wyll has done a lot of research on vanquishing vampire lords, and has probably made up a complete vampire slaying kit simply labeled "Cazador"

Lae'zel does nice things for people all the time, it's just that nobody realizes it. She's carrying most of your weapons, you don't think she's the one who sharpens them? She does. Without being told to, without asking for praise. Sometimes, she'll go back to the traders after dark because she realizes Durge/Tav hit random on camp supplies again, and Gale has nothing to work with.

Everyone knows Gale takes care of most of the cooking at camp, but I don't think anyone realizes he has a list of everyone's food allergies clipped in the back of his spell book, and even makes potion modifications depending on how his companions react to certain ingredients.

I also feel like Halsin started experimenting with herbology after finding out that Durge is afraid to go to sleep because they don't want to hurt anyone in camp, and ended up making them a sort of sleeping tincture to help their Bhaal-induced sleepwalking.

This one will maybe be a little less popular, but I headcannon Tav/Durge to be autistic, largely because I'm autistic, and I could definitely see Shadowheart making little cards for them with like "Yes", "No", "Angry", "Sad", "Overstimulated", etc. So that they could still communicate while having a meltdown.- Bonus points, they start learning sign language together if they have really high approval.

Wyll made some flashcards to help Lae'zel understand some of the norms, pronunciations, and overall weirdness of Faerun.

[zozoparsnips]

i’m doing it lads. the sense8 inspired BG3 fic is cooking.

[gnomishcunning]

8/28: "It will be okay as long as we're together"

(an alternative approach to the day 8 prompt of @writ3rstears #BG3FicFeb. cheesier than intended, but sometimes that’s how it goes.

i’ll rewrite this one someday when i have more braincells available.)

“Volunteers.” 

Marrow’s voice is shaking. 

That’s what draws everyone’s eyes away from dinner; their small, somber meal, camping on a bluff among the Shadowlands; halfway between the Thorm family crypt and the terrible omen of Moonrise Towers in the distance. 

Halsin freezes, Lae’zel stares. Gale loses concentration on the Mage Hand stirring the stew, leaving the wooden spoon to clunk against the side. Wyll’s gaze is straight concern. Even Shadowheart, silent since they left Shar’s temple, looks up from the depths of misery.

If Karlach had a heart, she’s sure it would clench.

“Yesterday, we freed the Nightsong. An aasimar by the name of Dame Aylin. She was the source of Ketheric Thorm’s immortality.” They state, nodding towards cleric. All eyes shift to her, and she freezes under the attention. After a long moment, she nods. Eyes return to Marrow.

“Tonight, Jaheira and her Harpers prepare to march on Moonrise Towers.” They hold up one hand. There’s a small stone clutched between two fingers, a deadringer for Wyll’s dead eye. A sending stone. “I got the message fifteen minutes after the Nightsong took flight.”

In four months of adventures, countless deadly situations and tense negotiations, the little leader had never hesitated to speak. Quick to throw a word, a comment, a comfort or a flirt. Whether their words made the situation worse or better, their opinion made its way into the world. 

Now? The words march off their tongue with all the enthusiasm of a funeral procession.

“In good conscience, I can’t ask any of you to come. Ketheric Thorm is stronger than any opponent we’ve faced before, and there’s an army between him and us we’ll need to fight our way through first.” They try to state, but — their voice breaks. A choked sob, like someone broke the spine of a small animal. Tears bead at the corner of their good eye. “If there’s any fight, any opponent that may kill us before the ceremorphosis does, it’d be here.”

That’s when Karlach moves. Her stew’s abandoned to the dirt, and she slides across the log she shares with her lover to wrap her arm around their thin shoulders; a tail curling around their waist. Marrow stays bone-straight. She can feel the tension in their spine, trying to resist from melting into her arms. 

“So.”  They croak, unsure, outright terrified; they’re speaking through fractured glass. Their gaze skips around the circle, staring at frozen faces. “I won’t ask any of you to come. Volunteers only. Follow me to Moonrise only if you’re sure you’re ready to risk your life.”

Before anyone can respond, it’s Astarion who finds his voice first.

“You mean to tell me, you’d march to Moonrise all on your little lonesome if we all opted to stay behind?” He asks. He sounds incredulous, almost curious — if the concept is some sort of indulgent fantasy.

Out of everything, this makes Marrow snort. 

(Karlach’s immediately shot back to when they first set foot in the Grymforge. Marrow spent most of that mission giggling their way through these conversations with the Duegar, shooting intermittent glances at the deep gnomes — the bodies lining the floor, the hunched backs of slaves, the nine-tailed whip in the hands of the Duegar master.

So horrified at the condition of their kin, incredulous laughter was all they could manage)

Her tail snakes a notch tighter around their waist. Marrow’s forced to wheeze, their laughter cutting off. 

“W-well,” They manage, still grinning. “You’ve all opted to trust me with your lives thus far. It’d be a shame if none of us were present to try and find a solution to our common affliction. It’d only be right as leader, dutifully elected or otherwise.”

The statement hangs in the air. It’s the first time Marrow has vocalized it, but far from the first time it’s been acknowledged. Leading Shadowheart up off the ravaged beach where it all started had snowballed into serving as the figurehead and face of a makeshift mercenary company, an adventuring party none had asked to join. Making decisions, giving orders, taking lives — they all looked to their little leader.

 Team Tadpole, Marrow had joked once. Everyone had groaned, but nobody had thought of anything better. 

“I’ll be there.”

Karlach’s voice breaks the silence, no better than her first rushed iloveyoutoo. 

Marrow turns to look straight at her, so grateful they might cry — oh hells, they are crying — but wearing the crooked little grin Karlach’s only seen when they’re truly happy. The gnome shifts to slide a small arm around Karlach’s back, leaning in to press a silent, grateful kiss to her cheek. 

“Aye.” Wyll’s the second to agree, nodding solemnly. “Your instincts haven’t led us astray yet.”

“No jhe’stil,” Lae’zel interrupts. “Yet you led me to see Vlaakith’s eyes. My blade will be at the ready.”

“You fed me without question my first week in camp,” Astarion muses. “I’d be remiss to lose a source of free meals.” 

“And as much as you hoard every bit of magic we’ve come across, you’ve always found a spare bit of Weave for me to consume. It’s mighty time I repay that generosity.” Gale adds.

“After everything you’ve done for Thaniel andI ? It’s no question.” Halsin affirms. 

Marrow’s gaze jumps around the circle. Their face is pure stun, tears leaving wet streaks down one side of their face. Their eyes eventually land on Shadowheart, the only one who hasn’t spoken. 

Next to Karlach herself, Shadowheart’s been Marrow’s constant companion since the very beginning. Even when the barbarian isn’t, the cleric always is. If Shadowheart weren’t so shy and Marrow so secretive about their family, Karlach would almost call them sister and sibling.

“...You followed me into the Shadowfell, convinced me disobey Shar and spare the Nightsong and pulled me back out in one piece. I’ve abandoned my goddess and my purpose at your urging.” She eventually manages. Marrow winces like they’ve been stabbed. 

Then she smiles, for the first time since they’ve left the Sharran temple. “Where else would I be?”

Marrow doesn’t quite grin, but something else rises. That ineffable determination, an improv actor’s faux-confidence. Enough to bring about a grim smile, knowing their troupe was behind them. 

“Then tomorrow,” They manage, voice rough but whole. “We march on Moonrise.”

[bobasheebaby]

The Name Game- Lucky Number 7?: Crimson Rain chapter 6

Pairing: Bastien x Liza; Olivia Nevrakis; Hope Casey (Lykel)

Word count: 1,334

Warnings: Liza’s nerves, fluff, abuse to food? (crazy concoctions are real for Liza)

Summary: They are expecting a girl, now comes the hard part, picking a name. When the girls get involved can anyone agree, or will it all just end in headaches and hurt feelings?

A/N: It actually took me awhile to pick a name, but once I did with help from both @sirbeepsalot and @stopforamoment it clicked and it was perfect and I couldn’t imagine any other name for this sweet baby girl. Thank both of you so much for putting up with me and my many names.

Let me preface with all names mentioned are beautiful, I love them all or I wouldn’t use them, however there is only one perfect name for tadpole and I really wanted a fic with everyone throwing names around.

The next chapter has so many more and worse food combos. If you have an idea for a food combo let me know, and maybe I will include them. Also if anyone tries one of the food combos and posts proof I will happily write you a Drabble cause my muse is down right crazy with these.

Series warnings: talks of pregnancy loss, fear of pregnancy loss, anxiety, depression. Set within Crimson Rain but pulling the major pregnancy drama from the main series. All the fluff and angst with minimal mobster drama.

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist.

Disclaimer: I own my OC’s, the rest I’m simply borrowing from PB for a bit.

“So I’ve been looking up baby names.” Olivia said as she sat across from Liza lounging on the sofa, bowl of god knows what her most recent concoction was, balanced on her growing bump.

“Liv, I think Bas and I are perfectly capable of picking a name.”

Olivia chuckled. “I’m sure you are, but will it be a strong name that insights fear?”

“Liv, she’s a baby, not a warrior.”

“She’s a Lykel, she’s got two mob families she’s a part of, she should have a name that reflects that fact.”

Liza rolled her hazel eyes, she knew Olivia was merely trying to be helpful, but she really didn't want to have this conversation now. She didn’t want to jinx things by getting ahead of herself and picking a name. Next they are going to want to decorate the nursery. The thought made her stomach twist in knots, having to walk past the empty room if something went wrong. “Okay, Liv, maybe we can go over names later.” Delay the conversation as long as I can.

“Oooh are we talking baby names?” Hope’s cheerful voice broke through as she plopped next to Liza on the sofa, feet tucking under her like always.

Liza internally sighed, knowing she would be unable to get out of this discussion now. Hope had been slowly meshing into their family and she didn’t want Hope to take her unwillingness as unacceptantance of her. “If everyone is going to be included someone needs to get Bas.”

“I’ll get him!” Hope said jumping back up to her feet. And some edible snacks.” She peered into Liza’s bowl, her nose scrunching in disgust. “Pickles, popcorn and are those—”

“Raisinets!” Liza said happily popping one into her mouth. “Tadpole wanted pickles, like always and I wanted something sweet and salty like popcorn and raisinets, so I tossed them together.” She gave a shrug. “It’s pretty tasty, wanna try?” She asked holding out her bowl, hazel eyes sparkling with joy. She really did enjoy the combination but she also loved the horror on their faces when they uncovered her newest pairing.

“Nope! I’m good. I’ll go get Bas and— some edible snacks.” Hope said giving the bowl one last glance before turning on her heel and exiting the room.

“Bring back more pickles!” She held the bowl out to Olivia. “Want some?”

“I’ll pass.”

“More for me.” She shoved another handful into her mouth.

*

A few minutes later Hope returned, bowl of buttered popcorn in hand. She passed Liza a jar of pickles, as she returned to her seat.

“Thanks!” Liza exclaimed, eyes alight as she opened the jar, drizzling the juice over her popcorn mixture.

Olivia’s eyes widened in horror as she watched Liza proceed to eat the newly topped concoction moaning in delight. “If I ever have kids please stop me from eating stuff like that.”

“What does she have now?” Bastien questioned taking a seat next to Liza.  

“You don’t want to know.” Olivia replied, face twisted in disgust as she tried to keep from gagging.

“I hear we’re talking baby names.” He slipped his arm behind Liza. He bent down, whispering into her ear. “You sure you can handle this, I know you worry about making too many decisions.”

Liza nodded, his concern and understanding blanketing her in warmth. “I’ll be okay. Thanks.” She whispered back, placing a sweet kiss to his cheek. “Okay Liv, I’m sure you have a list, let’s hear them.” She turned back to face the redhead.

“You know me too well.” Olivia replies tapping on her phone. “I do in fact have a list.”

Liza fought the urge to roll her eyes. This is gonna be a long talk.

“Lysandra, it means liberator.”

“Two questions.” Liza giggled as Olivia responded with a raise of her perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “First who is she liberating, and second is she the daughter of a mobster or is she an elf or hobbit on a quest in middle earth?”

“You’re lucky you’re pregnant.”

Liza nodded in agreement, and for a moment she actually felt at peace. She finally felt lucky and less fear than she had since reading the two pink lines on the stick.

“Andraste, it means invincible.” Bastien wrinkled his nose. “Fine.” Her eyes scanned her list. “What about Callen? It means powerful.”

“It’s pretty Liv, but it just doesn’t seem right.”

“What about Astra?” Hope exclaimed, scrolling through on her own phone, bowl of popcorn forgotten.

“What does it mean?” Olivia asked.

“I don’t know I just thought it sounded pretty.”

Liza smirked as Liv rolled her eyes. The girls got along well enough, but there were times they behaved like sisters and you’d never guess they didn’t grow up with each other.

Olivia rapped at her phone. “Here is it, Astra, like a star.”

“I don’t know.” Liza said turning to Bastien who shook his head in response.

“Isa is pretty, and has a good meaning.” Olivia stayed shooting a look at Hope who stuck out her tongue. “It means strong willed.”

“Well she’s certainly that, like her mother.” Bastien teased.

“Hey, be nice! You’re stubborn too.” Bastien gave her a questioning look. “Need I remind you it took you ten years to lock it down and marry me, let alone ask me to marry you?”

“She got you there Bas.” Olivia grinned.

“Oh I have one! Lana!” Olivia looked at Hope expectantly. “And yes I looked up the meaning.” She looked back at her phone. “Lana, valuable, precious.”

“That’s really pretty.” Liza replied turning to Bastien. “Maybe her middle name?”

“Perfect.” Bastien replied kissing her nose.

Hope sat back, picking back up her abandoned popcorn, smug smile on her face.

“Okay, well she still needs a strong first name.” Olivia stayed, letting Hope’s win roll off of her. “Keren, means strength and power.”

“Keren Lana Lykel.” Bastien tested the name. “Doesn’t seem right does it?”

Liza shook her head in response. The names continued to shoot around the room, one after the other, more than Liza wanted to count. So many names they started to blend together, and it felt like every variation of names meaning strength or power had been recited, to the point the words themselves seemed to lose their meaning. Liza stretched her arms over her head as she let out a yawn. “I don’t think I can hear anymore names right now. At least we have a middle name.” She pushed herself off the couch. “I’m going to go lay down with Buttons if I can find him. We can talk more some other time.” She said before heading off to her room.

*

“Ugh.” Liza rubbed at her temples, eyes closed in defeat, shoulders sagging. “I have such a headache. Who would have thought thinking up a name for a baby would be so exhausting?” They sat and tossed names around for what seemed like hours and the only progress they’d made was a middle name; Lana—valuable, precious.

Bastien chuckled, he gently replaced her fingers with his, rubbing her temples in firm circles. “We’ll get it.” He kissed her forehead. “At least we have a middle name.”

Liza felt the tension leave her body under his skilled touch. She slowly opened her eyes, gazing into his steely grey reading all his love for her in his expression. How did I get so damn lucky?! “I feel like I need to burn a bunch of sage to cleanse the house.” Thump. Liza jumped, startled by the sudden, sharp movement. Her eyebrows knitted together. No, she couldn’t have… “Sage?” Thump. She shook her head, letting out a small laugh. Of course it would be that easy. “I kinda like it.”

“Me too.” Bastien dropped his hands from her head, cupping her stomach instead as he knelt in front of her. “Hello Sage Lana.” Thump. His smile grew as he laughed, rubbing softly where she’d kicked him. He leaned forward pressing a kiss to Liza’s bump. “Momma and Papa love you little tadpole.”

Feedback fuels me, please like, comment reblog or send an ask. Feel free to scream, I promise I can take it.

Masterlist can be found in my bio.

Taglist will be reblogged.

[bloodycyrano]

I am extremely mentally fucked right now, so let's see how team tadpole handles their depressive episodes! TW, this will probably be super depressing to read.

Astarion: He thinks he hides it really well, and for the most part, he does. But his motivation for easy, everyday tasks and self care goes absolutely down the drain. You've seen the inside of his tent, you know how it goes. He tries to keep up the image of doing well, keep the smile, keep the jokes coming. He's terrified of people finding out what's underneath, and in hiding it, he feels like he has the upper hand. He doesn't, and he needs therapy. I'd also put money on him hypersexualizing himself for the validation and to feel like he was worth something. After all, Cazador beat it into him that that was all he was good for. Luring in pray with his body. - We also know that Astarion has nightmares, but I'd like to add to this with the reminder that Elves don't sleep. They trance. In the trance, they go over the memories of their past. It's how they keep up with such long lives and how they stay close to past lives as children (For those who dont know, elves don't measure age in maturity, but rather by distance to their past lives- Once an elf can no longer recall memories from their past life, they are considered an adult. They pick their adult name in celebration of the new person and consciousness that they now are). The fact that Astarion can remember nothing of his life prior to being turned by Cazador, nothing of his family, etc., Means that he is so deeply affected by Cazador that those memories are the only things he can see when he goes to rest at night. Every night, in perfect detail, he has to remember all of his worst trauma.

Karlach: Karlach is the sunshine character. She's sweet, and loud and bright with the biggest smile, but you also have to remember that she was a soldier. She was sold off to a literal demon and used as a science experiment essentially for the hell of it. She's not going to open up about what she's feeling immediately, and she's not going to seek help, either. She thinks she has to deal with it quietly and on her own, because since her parents died; that's what she's always had to do. Chin up, no tears, keep fighting. It's going to stress her out to the point where she starts smoking again, but she'll try to hide it or brush it off. Most importantly, she's going to be more focussed on not burdening those around her and trying to take care of you guys and protect you at the expense of her own mental health and physical safety. But her sorrows are noticeable. She can try to hide it, but everyone in camp knows. Everyone in camp is worried. Everyone can see when her eyes stop glimmering, when she stops dancing around in her tent when she can't sleep, when her bright laughter stops, and when she gets quiet. So quiet. She zones out, like she's in another realm entirely. She probably also has post traumatic stress from her time as a soldier, and it's going to weigh on her heavily in battle. Maybe she'll freeze up, have flashbacks, even potentially have small hallucinations now and again. It's going to take a lot of care and reassurance to get her to talk to you about it, but when she finally does, she'll probably have a complete meltdown with all the feelings she's been keeping inside.

Wyll: Wyll self isolates. He gets much quieter, and he probably isn't going to be too open to talking about it unless he's really close to you. He gets a little cold when talking to people, but he's good at resolving things in his head and the most likely to rationalize his feelings to make himself feel better. He also probably writes poetry, or even paints his feelings as a form of expressing his sorrows because he understands he needs some outlet so he isn't bottling everything up. He has the heart of an artist, and this is a hill I am prepared to die on.

Gale: He has a hard time talking when he's sad, and probably has difficulty making eye contact as well. He'd probably be more inclined to seek out comfort and vent than the rest of team tadpole, but that doesn't take away from the complexity of his emotions. He's angry, and sad, and feels so so shitty just about being who he is in general. He's fallen so far from where he once was, and for what? He'll do is best to rationalize, but his anxiety is going to push into paranoia, and rationalizing is going to turn into self loathing. He's going to try his best to be more useful, and show off, and earn the validation he craves because without that, what is he? He was a prodigy child. He used to be so, so great. Even the goddess of magic herself thought so. Now he's rotting away in a camp full of strangers and trying to re-learn level one spells. It's taking a toll on him, and it's noticeable to anyone willing to look.

Shadowheart: She's trying to pray. The goddess she has been devoted to all her life is the lady of loss. There is a great amount of sorrow in the way she worships, and in her suffering, she finds faith. She tells herself it's her next step to becoming a dark justiciar. Delving further into her faith and trusting in the dark depths of her soul, and her pain. All it ever truly does is make her hurt, though.

Lae'zel: Lae’zel is truly a specimen built on stoicism. If you ask her what's wrong, she will tell you but it will also be in such a way that you wonder if she's really processing all of her pain. The thing is, she's thinking about it. She has the emotional intelligence to understand the way she's feeling and how to fix it, but for some reason unknown to her, she can't. And that's what's going to stress her out and hurt her the most. She knows what theoretically should fix the pain, but it's not working the way that it should. She's going to wonder if it's something wrong with her, or the way she's going about it. She might get angry with other people more often, and try to project blame onto someone so that maybe she can find a way to resolve the way that it hurts. But she can't. She'll keep throwing temporary solutions and misplaced anger into the void until she finds something to distract from it. And maybe, after a lot of contemplation and positive outside help from the rest of team tadpole, she may find peace.

[bloodycyrano]

Once again in an emotional slump, here's how team tadpole would try to comfort you after a fight!

Karlach- Doesn't matter who was right or wrong, she still cares about you and wants to make things right, so long as you care enough to do the same. She'd probably bring you hot chocolate or some sort of comforting sweet food, and hold you for a while; adding words of affirmation and trying to make sure you know she didn't mean to hurt you.

Wyll- Wyll would bring you flowers, and take you on a long walk to discuss the fight afterwards. He'd likely take some time to give a good and genuine apology, while also calmly explaining why he was upset or why he said the things that he did. Afterwards, he would probably come up with a way to compromise or make sure arguments like that don't happen in the future, and softly kiss your hands.

Astarion- After a long period of time spent pouting and being passive-aggressive, Astarion might finally realize that he's actually hurt your feelings. Which is something he didn't realize he was quite important enough to do. He doesn't like to apologize, and he'll probably be a bit awkward about it.. But he will. He'll approach by attempting to make you laugh with one of his sassy comments about things and slowly make that awkward apology. If he tries explaining why he was angry or discusses the argument further, I think he actually might cry. You both end up apologizing and making joking snarky comments to each other, probably sharing a snack (Aka, he kisses your arm a bunch before drinking from your wrist, and you get a health potion and chocolate chip cookies for giving blood) and cuddling.

Gale- Gale is the first to apologize. Maybe he was in the wrong, maybe you were, it doesn't matter. There was a fight. And while he will explain why he was upset, and why he said the things he said, he's still going to dote on you afterwards. He feels bad that an argument even had to happen in the first place, and he isn't about to let you stew in your emotions about it. He'll make you a nice meal, Apologize far more than necessary, and then pout about it later.

Shadowheart- One does not simply ask Shars favorite princess to apologize. And she probably won't apologize for a while yet.. She will approach you, and bring you somewhere dark and secluded to simply enjoy each other's company. She may give you a hug, or some words of affirmation.. You will have to start the conversation about the fight, and explain why you were upset; but she will apologize once she realizes your thought process on the matter.

Lae'zel- Lae'zel does not apologize. Ever. She isn't exactly a bitch about it or anything, but she also doesn't understand how she upset you or why you had such an emotional reaction. You're going to have to break it down and explain it to her bit by bit in a calm and comprehensive manner, and then she may show some signs of remorse. She still won't apologize, but there may be an anonymous gift left at the foot of your bedroll when you wake.

[boiled-turnip]

Desperately shoving Din Djarin into the horrors of bg3. As if he doesn’t have enough to deal with already, I need to see this guy sigh his way through the world’s most complicated worm extraction quest.

Just imagine Din having to deal with the team tadpole shenanigans. I need him to have the bg3 harem experience. I need to put him through the same bisexual suffering like I did with my Tav.